T H E E D I C T S O F T H E T O K U G A W AS H O G U N A T E :
E X C E R P T S F R O M T H E E D I C T O F 1 6 3 5 O R D E R I N G T H E C L O S I N G O F
J A P A N : A D D R E S S E D T O T H E J O I N T B U G Y Ō O F N A G A S A K I
Introduction
The unification of Japan and the creation of a lasting national polity in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth
centuries required more than just military exploits. Japan’s “three unifiers,” especially Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536‐
1598) and Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543‐1616), enacted a series of social, economic, and political reforms in order to
pacify a population long accustomed to war and instability and create the institutions necessary for lasting central
rule. Although Hideyoshi and Ieyasu placed first priority on domestic affairs — especially on establishing authority
over domain lords, warriors, and agricultural villages — they also dictated sweeping changes in Japan’s
international relations.
In the 1630s, the Tokugawa shogunate took a series of steps to further restrict Japan’s international contacts. By
1639, the Dutch were the only Europeans permitted to come to Japan, and the conditions under which they were
allowed to trade and interact with Japanese were extremely circumscribed by the Tokugawa authorities. The
following edict of 1635 was issued by the shogunate to the officials administering the busy port of Nagasaki, the
site of most of Japan’s foreign contacts at the time.
1. Japanese ships are strictly forbidden to leave for foreign countries.
2. No Japanese is permitted to go abroad. If there is anyone who attempts to do so secretly,
he must be executed. The ship so involved must be impounded and its owner arrested, and the
matter must be reported to the higher authority.
3. If any Japanese returns from overseas after residing there, he must be put to death.
4. If there is any place where the teachings of padres (Christianity) is practiced, the two of
you must order a thorough investigation.
…
7. If there are any Southern Barbarians (Westerners) who propagate the teachings of
padres, or otherwise commit crimes, they may be incarcerated in the prison maintained by the
Ōmura domain, as was done previously.
…
10. Samurai are not permitted to purchase any goods originating from foreign ships directly
from Chinese merchants in Nagasaki.
…
E X C E R P T S F R O M T H E E D I C T O F 1 6 3 5 O R D E R I N G T H E C L O S I N G O F
J A P A N : A D D R E S S E D T O T H E J O I N T
B U G Y Ō O F N A G A S A K I
Introduction
The unification of Japan and the creation of a lasting national polity in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth
centuries required more than just military exploits. Japan’s “three unifiers,” especially Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536‐
1598) and Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543‐1616), enacted a series of social, economic, and political reforms in order to
pacify a population long accustomed to war and instability and create the institutions necessary for lasting central
rule. Although Hideyoshi and Ieyasu placed first priority on domestic affairs — especially on establishing authority
over domain lords, warriors, and agricultural villages — they also dictated sweeping changes in Japan’s
international relations.
In the 1630s, the Tokugawa shogunate took a series of steps to further restrict Japan’s international contacts. By
1639, the Dutch were the only Europeans permitted to come to Japan, and the conditions under which they were
allowed to trade and interact with Japanese were extremely circumscribed by the Tokugawa authorities. The
following edict of 1635 was issued by the shogunate to the officials administering the busy port of Nagasaki, the
site of most of Japan’s foreign contacts at the time.
1. Japanese ships are strictly forbidden to leave for foreign countries.
2. No Japanese is permitted to go abroad. If there is anyone who attempts to do so secretly,
he must be executed. The ship so involved must be impounded and its owner arrested, and the
matter must be reported to the higher authority.
3. If any Japanese returns from overseas after residing there, he must be put to death.
4. If there is any place where the teachings of padres (Christianity) is practiced, the two of
you must order a thorough investigation.
…
7. If there are any Southern Barbarians (Westerners) who propagate the teachings of
padres, or otherwise commit crimes, they may be incarcerated in the prison maintained by the
Ōmura domain, as was done previously.
…
10. Samurai are not permitted to purchase any goods originating from foreign ships directly
from Chinese merchants in Nagasaki.
…